Queensland Ballet dancers have made an extraordinary on-stage appeal to the federal government for more funding for their cash-strapped company.
At the opening night curtain call of The Nutcracker, soloist Georgia Swan asked the audience to sign a petition calling on the federal House of Representatives to increase ballet's funding in line with other major Australian performing arts companies.
"Despite over 60 years of success and the tireless efforts of our leadership team, we remain significantly underfunded compared to our industry peers," Swan said, backed by the company's dancers on the Lyric Theatre stage at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
"This company is my family, and I am truly terrified about what may happen for us, and for Queensland, if we can't secure a better funding outcome," she said.